Archive for July, 2009
Photo Gallery Update
By the way, our photo gallery is up to date through Pitchfork, so if you want to take a peek, visit ww.illinoisentertainerphoto.com for all the pics you’ll ever need. Ever.
Balthrop Alabama preview
Reggie’s Music Joint, Chicago
Thursday, July 9, 2009
When this ragtag batch of Alabaman New Yorkers opened for Dawn Landes at Hideout last year, it was hard not to daydream a sequel to Waiting For Guffman, where Corky grows disillusioned and moves to Brooklyn.
Cryptacize previewed
Hideout, Chicago
Friday, July 10, 2009
It’s ludicrous to guess the intentions behind anyone’s art, but with Mythomania it feels like Cryptacize actually see a future in what they’re doing.
Micachu & The Shapes preview
Schubas, Chicago
Monday, July 13, 2009
Though the “chu” attached to Mica Levi’s first name refers to her hybrid guitar, it’s also an appropriate description of her music. It’s as if, short on ink for a Rorschach test, she sneezed on staff paper instead.
Ryan Bingham reviewed
Roadhouse Sun
(Lost Highway)
Of the criticisms levelled against Ryan Bingham’s major-label debut, Mescalito, was its obsession with establishing the author in a fabric of hobos, grifters, and drifters, an attempt to build cred through self-mythology.
Appearing: Saturday, July 11 at Martyrs in Chicago.
Cover Story: Cheap Trick
Call And Response
You wouldn’t be out of line accusing Cheap Trick of coasting. Their last album was named for their hometown of Rockford and featured cartoon images of themselves on the cover; this summer’s release bears the oh-so-cunning title The Latest. A year ago they toured as an opener for Journey and Heart, and in [...]
Todd Snider interview
All-Star Snub
Lost amid the hoopla surrounding pitcher Zack Greinke’s hot start, this year’s Kansas City Royals are surging thanks to sweet-swingin’ singer/songwriter Todd Snider. “I was with the Cubs last year the whole way,” he admits, “watched most of the games. But I’m with the Royals now because I met some of ‘em. They gave [...]
Placebo interview
A Change Of Skin
Even with the boundary-less World Wide Web, most of us music lovers go about our listening business unaware there are beloved hit-makers across the oceans who are blips on the radar or completely unknown to us. There are any number of possible reasons for this, really, but with the release of their [...]
Landy interview
Tip Of The Goldberg
Forgive Adam Goldberg. He doesn’t mean to interrupt. But if he could just . . . yeah, ’scuse me . . . there. Pardon me. Already disguising his sprawling, Mercury Rev-ish psychedelia as Landy (his “band” name), he’s trying to make his debut album as unobtrusive as possible: released on Apology Music, [...]
Sonic Youth live!
Vic Theatre, Chicago
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sonic Youth have always seemed like a band who shouldn’t exist. Or, more specifically, should no longer exist. In their embryonic stages, the New York-based quartet (stretched into a five-piece for this tour by adding ex-Pavement bassist Mark Ibold) could barely play their instruments. So they improvised by creating a [...]
The Horse’s Ha preview
Schubas, Chicago
Friday, July 3, 2009
Chicagoans Janet Bean (Eleventh Dream Day) and Jim Elkington (The Zincs) have made their Horse’s Ha side-project official. Sommeliers across the county can relax, as they’ve moved on to more salt-of-the-earth venues like Schubas.
Cage preview
Reggie’s, Chicago
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Cage has never really been the typical MC, but within the past four years, the New Yorker has moved further into his own alternative sonic existence.
File: July 2009
God Bless The Queen
The blues world has lost its Queen. Koko Taylor, whose raw-edged, impassioned vocals won the hearts of fans worldwide for five decades, passed away at 80 on June 3rd of complications from gastrointestinal surgery.
Hello, My Name Is Lita
Q&A With Lita Ford
IE: I’ve noticed a lot of Runaways imports in the record stores. That seems to be really hot right now. What is your involvement, if any, in the upcoming Runaways biopic?
Lita Ford: We’ve had a bit of a falling out, and I just don’t care to be a part of it . [...]
Around Hear: July 2009
Local Band Reviews
Lubriphonic
Lock five skilled blues musicians from the heart of Chicago in a room and ask them to jam for a couple of hours, and what do you get? Hopefully an all-out blues-soul-funk experience — and in the case of Chicago newcomers Lubriphonic, that’s exactly what’s delivered. The quintet lets all its influences — [...]
